Activists invade site of Microsoft's planned data centre in Amsterdam

Several hundred activists, part of the climate and justice campaign Geef Tegengas and environmental group Fossielvrij, occupied the construction site of a proposed Microsoft data center in Amsterdam on Friday. The protesters halted work for the day by scaling barrier fences despite a police presence. Their main grievances centered on the data center's massive energy consumption, estimated to surpass all households in Amsterdam, and the substantial water usage required for cooling.

Nathan Timmer, a spokesman for Geef Tegengas, argued that the facility would also be utilized for AI warfare and what he termed the "genocide in Gaza." Activists painted anti-Microsoft messages on the construction walls and shouted political slogans during their occupation. According to the Dutch news agency ANP, between 150 and 200 protesters were arrested by the police.

The growing environmental concerns surrounding AI data centers, including their high energy demands and cooling needs, have led to a backlash worldwide. Additionally, there are worries about the noise, pollution, visual impact, and employment opportunities these facilities might create. The coalition "Stop Dirty Data Centers" called for a temporary halt to the construction of such sites on Friday and Saturday across European countries. However, Microsoft did not provide a comment on the matter.